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Keeping Our Stories Alive: Heritage Project Creates 68 Work Opportunities in North West

Zanele Mthembu
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
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A community’s history lives in the people who remember it — in family stories, traditions and knowledge passed from one generation to the next. In Mmakau, North West, efforts to preserve that history have also created opportunities for local people.

According to a report published by SAnews on 21 September 2026, the Positive Change Youth Foundation created 68 temporary work opportunities through a heritage project supported by the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme.

The initiative explored historical and cultural connections between Batswana and Basotho communities, helping document knowledge for future generations.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, LASTING VALUE

The project grew from questions about shared language and traditions, alongside concern that older community members’ knowledge could be lost without being recorded.

Funding supported research, travel, skills development and the production of a book.

There is something deeply human about that work. Taking the time to listen to someone’s memories gives their experiences a place beyond a single conversation. It allows children and grandchildren to encounter stories they might otherwise never hear.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE

The foundation’s project manager, Khutso Raphepele, told SAnews that technical roles ran for at least five months, while less-skilled roles involved one-month contracts.

These were temporary positions, but he said the training and experience improved participants’ prospects for future work in heritage and education.

For someone starting out, a chance to contribute to a real project can matter. It offers an opportunity to take responsibility, learn alongside others and begin building a working history.

MAKING ROOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

The National Heritage Council supports community heritage initiatives through the programme, linking preservation with work opportunities.

That connection gives this story its significance. Preserving history requires people willing to ask questions, listen carefully and record what they learn. Bringing younger people into that process creates room for both learning and contribution.

SOMETHING WORTH CARRYING FORWARD

A family story may never appear in a school textbook. A familiar tradition may never attract national attention. Yet both can hold enormous meaning for the people who inherit them.

Mmakau’s project is a reminder that meaningful work can begin close to home, with the people and knowledge already around us.

Sometimes, creating an opportunity for the future starts with making sure the past is heard.

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About Zanele Mthembu

Zanele Mthembu covers South African community news for Trustoria, focusing on municipal developments, social justice and local culture. Based in Durban and rooted in her Zulu heritage, she brings clarity and compassion to stories that affect everyday lives, combining a commitment to accountability with a passion for highlighting community achievements, resilience and positive change.

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